Safety and the police report come first
If you arrive home and find a door open, a window broken, or signs that someone has been inside, do not walk in. Someone may still be in the building. Move to a safe place outside, away from the entrance, and call 911. Describe what you see and wait for officers to clear the home. Do not go in to check what is missing, even if you think the building is empty.
Once officers have cleared the property, you can file a report. The report matters for several reasons. It creates a record for your insurance claim, it documents the method of entry, and it may link your case to others in the area. Ask for the report number before the officers leave, and ask how you can get a copy.
Avoid touching the door, frame, or lock more than necessary until the police say they have finished. Fingerprints, tool marks, and footprints can be important. If officers gather evidence, they will tell you when the scene can be released. This can take time, but waiting protects your claim and any investigation. A locksmith can wait outside until you are cleared to proceed, and a responsible one will not touch anything that police have asked to be left alone.
Document everything before you change anything
Take photographs from several angles before anything is repaired or moved. Photograph the broken door, the damaged frame, the cracked strike plate, the lock, and any pry marks. Take wide shots to show context and close ups to show detail. If glass is broken, photograph the glass and the surrounding frame. Date and time stamps help, so use your phone camera with its normal metadata.
Write down what you can recall: when you last used the door, whether it was locked, whether you have a doorbell camera, and who else has keys. Make a list of stolen or damaged items as you notice them, though a full inventory may take several days. Keep any broken parts, because an insurer or an adjuster may want to see them.
Contact your insurance company soon. Ask what documentation they need and whether they cover emergency repairs and lock changes. Keep receipts for temporary boards, locks, and services, as these are often reimbursable under a policy. Our guide on whether insurance covers a locksmith explains how to approach it, though the details depend on your own policy and the insurer.
Temporary securing so you can sleep
Before the permanent fix, you need the opening closed. If the door is broken but still hangs, a locksmith or carpenter can often make it secure the same day with a temporary measure, such as a replacement lock and a reinforced strike. If the door is split or the frame is shattered, boarding the opening with plywood is a common temporary step.
Do not leave a damaged entry in place and plan to fix it later. The people who broke in once know the property, and they know the way in. Some repeat entries happen within days. You may also have lost keys or garage remotes in the burglary, which means that old keys and remotes should be treated as compromised.
If you cannot get a repair the same day, consider staying elsewhere, or placing heavy furniture against the door from inside only if it will not trap you or block an exit in an emergency. Never block a path that a person or a firefighter would need to use to leave quickly.
- Ask the police whether the scene can be released before touching the entry point.
- Photograph damage first, then secure the opening.
- Keep receipts for temporary boards, locks, and labor.
- Do not leave the damaged opening unsecured overnight if you can avoid it.
- Treat any keys or remotes that were in the home as compromised.
Rekey or replace: which fits your situation
If the intruder got in without damaging the lock, for example through an unlocked door, a window, or with a key, the lock may be physically fine but compromised. Rekeying changes the internal pins so that old keys no longer work. It is the sensible response when keys were taken, when keys have been copied by unknown people, or when you simply no longer know who has one.
If the lock was forced, broken, drilled, or pried, the lock itself may be damaged. A damaged lock might still turn, but it may have been weakened. Replace it. Our page on lock change and installation explains the process, and the page on lock rekey service explains the alternative.
In many homes, the best approach is to bring all exterior locks to one new standard after a break-in. Rekeying every exterior lock to a single new key reduces the number of keys you carry, and replacing the weakest locks at the same time improves protection. The technician can tell you which locks are worth keeping and which are not. Do not forget secondary entries like a patio slider, a basement door, and a garage entry door. A burglar who got in once may test those next time.
The door frame matters as much as the lock
Most forced entries do not defeat the lock cylinder. They defeat the door frame. A kick or a pry bar can split the wood around the strike plate, and the bolt, still extended, tears out with the splintered wood. A very good lock in a weak frame is a weak door.
After a break-in, inspect the frame carefully. Look for cracks around the strike plate, a split jamb, loose or missing screws, and a door that no longer sits flat. Broken wood must be repaired or replaced, since screws will not hold in splintered material. A carpenter or a locksmith with carpentry experience can set a new jamb section, or replace the jamb, and refit the hardware.
Reinforcement hardware helps. A long, heavy strike plate fixed with long screws that reach the wall stud spreads the force of a kick over more wood. Metal door frame reinforcement plates wrap the edge of the jamb and make a split far more difficult. Door edge guards around the lock area help protect the door slab. These are common upgrades, and our page on high security locks covers hardware options.
Sliding doors, windows, and garage entries
Not every break-in comes through the front door. Sliding glass doors can be lifted off their tracks or have their latches defeated. Windows may have weak latches. Garage doors can be fooled, and the door between garage and house is often a light hollow door with a basic lock because the owner assumed the garage was secure.
After a break-in, take a walk around the property with a critical eye. Check each ground level opening and ask whether it is as strong as the front door. A secondary bar in the track of a sliding door, a pin lock, or a replacement latch can be an effective upgrade. Window locks that are sound but not used do no good, so make sure the household locks them.
Our page on garage entry door lock problems covers the door between the garage and the house, which deserves the same care as the front door. If your garage opener remote was taken, consider having the opener reprogrammed by a garage door professional, since the remote could be used to open the main door.
Smart locks, cameras, and what they can and cannot do
Many people respond to a break-in by buying cameras and smart locks. These can help, but they are not a replacement for sound mechanical security. A camera records, it does not stop a kick. A smart lock with a weak bolt and a weak frame is still a weak door.
If you add electronics, change any shared passwords or keypad entry numbers that were stored in the home, including alarm panel settings and Wi-Fi credentials. Intruders may have seen written notes or devices. Remove user access for anyone who no longer needs it.
A good plan is layered. A solid door and frame, a quality deadbolt, a reinforced strike, good exterior lighting, trimmed shrubs near windows, and a visible deterrent each contribute a little. Our guide on the home security checklist for new homeowners is useful even for long term residents after an incident.
Renters, landlords, and shared buildings
If you rent, the steps are the same, but the responsibilities are split. Tell your landlord or property manager right away, in writing, and keep a copy. Many leases and local rules place the duty to keep entry doors secure on the owner of the building, and a landlord may have to arrange or approve the repair. Do not change locks on your own without checking what your lease says, since some leases require that the landlord keeps a key or that changes be approved first.
In a shared building, think about the whole entrance, not only your own door. A lobby door that does not latch, a back door propped open, or a shared key that has been copied many times all weaken the building. A tenant can raise those points with management, and a property manager can ask a locksmith to bring all common entries up to a consistent standard. Our page on apartment and landlord locksmith service describes how that kind of work is organized.
Whoever pays, keep the paper trail. Photographs, the police report number, messages with the landlord, and receipts all matter if there is a later disagreement about who should have fixed what and when. If you are worried about safety while the repair is pending, say so clearly in your message, and ask what temporary measures the building will take.
Keys, remotes, and the items taken with them
Burglars often take more than valuables. A set of keys on a hook, a spare in a drawer, a garage remote in a car, or a wallet with an address card can open the way to a second visit. Think through every item that could open something, and make a list: house keys, car keys, garage and gate remotes, mailbox keys, office keys, storage unit keys, and any alarm or smart lock credentials.
Each one needs a decision. House locks can be rekeyed. Car keys may need to be reprogrammed so that stolen keys no longer start the car, and our page on what to do if car keys are stolen explains this. Remotes can be reprogrammed or replaced. Alarm and keypad numbers should be changed. Do not forget keys that belong to other people, such as a neighbor's spare, if those were kept at your home.
Work through the list in order of risk. The items that give direct access to your home or vehicle come first, and the rest can follow over the next few days as you find out what was taken.
Emotional aftermath and practical caution
Many people feel unsafe in their own home after a burglary, even after repairs. That is normal. Taking practical steps can help, such as improving locks, changing routines, and telling trusted neighbors. Some communities have victim support services, and the police can often point you to them.
Be cautious about who you hire for the repair. After a break-in, you are a likely target for aggressive or dishonest repair offers. Be wary of unsolicited visitors, of any provider who asks for payment before explaining the work, and of anyone who refuses to give a clear quote. Our guides on how to spot a fake locksmith and how to verify a locksmith explain what to look for.
Do not feel rushed into replacing everything in one visit. A reasonable technician will explain the options, tell you what is urgent and what can wait, and let you decide.
What to have ready when you call
Have the police report number if you have one, a description of the damage, the number and type of exterior doors, and what kind of locks are in place if you know. Photos help. Tell us whether the door still closes and whether you can secure it right now. Mention whether keys or remotes were taken.
Quotes are given by phone, and a service call charge applies, explained before dispatch. For damaged frames and doors, an on-site visit is needed before a firm price can be given. A legitimate locksmith will ask you to confirm that you live at or control the property before changing locks.
If anyone is in danger or the intruder may still be present, call 911 first. Once it is safe and the scene is released, call and describe the damage, and we will help you plan the repair in the right order.
Questions people ask
Should I fix the door before the police arrive?
No. Stay out of the building until officers have cleared it, and avoid touching the entry point until they say the scene is released. Fingerprints and tool marks may matter. Once they allow it, photograph everything and then arrange a repair so the opening is secured.
Do I need to rekey every lock after a break-in?
Not always, but it is wise if keys were taken or you cannot account for who has copies. Rekeying every exterior lock to one new key is a common approach. If locks were forced or damaged, replace those. A technician can tell you which locks are worth keeping.
Is a stronger lock enough to stop another break-in?
Not by itself. Many forced entries defeat the door frame rather than the lock. A reinforced strike plate with long screws, a sound jamb, and a solid door matter as much as the deadbolt. Windows, sliding doors, and the garage entry also deserve attention.
Will my insurance pay for the lock repair?
It depends on your policy and the insurer. Many policies cover damage from a burglary, and some reimburse emergency securing. Report the claim promptly, keep receipts, and ask the insurer what documentation they need. We cannot say what your policy covers, so confirm with the insurer.
How quickly should the entry point be secured?
As soon as the police release the scene. An unsecured opening invites a second entry, and you may have lost keys or remotes. If a permanent fix cannot be done the same day, a temporary securing measure is reasonable until the door and frame can be repaired properly.
Can a locksmith repair the door frame as well?
Some can handle minor frame repairs and reinforcement hardware. Heavily split or shattered frames may need a carpenter. On the phone, we describe what the damage suggests and tell you honestly which part we can handle, and an on-site visit confirms it before any firm quote.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
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Written by Claude (AI) (AI) for 24/7 Locksmith USA.